Churning Out Success while at Purdue
Name: Alaina Weaver
Hometown: Roann, IN
Major & concentration: Agribusiness with a concentration in Finance; Farm Management minor
Why did you come to Purdue: Purdue offers a great education and a multitude of opportunities for students within agriculture. Additionally, the campus was close enough to home for me to still be involved in the family farm operation during weekends and breaks.
Favorite Purdue tradition: Lance Dance at Purdue Basketball Games
Top three influences at Purdue:
- Serving on the Dairy Club officer team
- AGEC Advisors
- Sigma Alpha
Top five memories of your time at Purdue:
- Participating in Dairy Challenge
- Dairy Judging
- Sigma Alpha Barn Dances
- Purdue Sports Events
- Being involved in Ag Week through the Dairy Club
Places you have been as a Purdue student:
- Dairy Judging: Maryland, Wisconsin, Utah, Texas and several farms across Indiana.
- Dairy Challenge: South Dakota, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida
- AFA: Kansas City, MO
- Brazil – College of Agriculture Study Abroad
- US Dairy Education & Training Consortium: 6 weeks in Clovis, NM
Favorite club/organization: Dairy Club
Favorite student-led event: Ag Week
Favorite Purdue event: Grand Prix – Moonlight Pancake Breakfast
Favorite place to study: Purdue Memorial Union Basement
Favorite thing about CoA: I love how the college feels like a small, tight-knit community on such a large campus.
Favorite class: AGEC 310, ANSC 485
Favorite professor: Dr. Foster (AGEC 305) and Dr. Boerman (ANSC 485)
Class you are excited to take your senior year: AGEC 411 and AGEC 321
Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue:
- Visiting a dairy farm in 11 different states through internships, the Dairy Club, dairy judging and the Dairy Challenge.
- Serving on the Sigma Alpha officer team as Director of Community Service.
- Planning Milk Monday (Ag week) and Springfest events for the Dairy Club.
Something about you that is not listed on your resume: Despite my dairy-heavy professional experiences, I spend just as much time working within beef and crop production as dairy production.
Future plans: I plan to return to my family’s dairy, beef, and crop farm, working alongside my family and growing my own individual farm portfolio.
Advice for underclassmen: Take advantage of the variety of opportunities available on campus to try new things!
The biggest takeaway from Purdue: The countless relationships I’ve been able to build with my peers, industry professionals, and professors that will continue to be beneficial throughout my lifetime and career.